Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Turn it Up to 11 and Finish Your Race Strong with these 11 Songs

For me, part of marathon or half marathon training is about the music. When I run, I listen to music that has a positive, motivational message and a driving beat. As race day approaches, I like to make a playlist just for that particular race. Normally when I run a race, I put my playlist on shuffle, but sometimes I like to have certain songs at the end, just for that extra push.

I like to turn it up to 11 as I finish. What? Tell me you haven't seen This is Spinal Tap? "When you need that extra push over the cliff, you know, we turn it up to 11...."~Nigel Tufnel.

Anyways....in my never-ending quest for the perfect motivational songs, I found 11 songs that I think would be the perfect finishers for a hard long distance race.


Baby I'm A Star--Prince
The purple one really blew me out of the water and across the finish line with this hit from his movie Purple Rain. Tell me you weren't tapping your foot while you listened just now!




Hallelujah-- Panic At the Disco
I finished one of my half marathons with this song playing and it could not have been more perfect. Simply because I was so glad to be done!



Pink-- Get This Party Started
One of Pink's first hits, this oldie but goodie was on my original iPod back in the day! It still sounds great as a finisher for a long race! She was such a baby in this video...



Katy Perry-- Roar
Who doesn't feel like roaring when crossing the finish line?




Imagine Dragons-- On Top of the World
I always feel like I'm on top of the world when I cross the finish line!




U2-- Beautiful Day
Everyday is a beautiful day when you're finishing a race!



Bachman Turner Overdrive--Takin' Care of Business

An oldie from the 1970s, the message never gets old.




Nelly--#1
"What does it take to be #1? 2 is not a winner and 3 nobody remembers.."




Journey-- Don't Stop Believing
Corny? Overused? Never.



Foo Fighters--My Hero
I first heard this song when my youngest played peewee football. The coach used it as the soundtrack to the season highlights video. 




2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa-- We Own It
This is a perpetual favorite on my running playlists.



Country loving friends: I tried. I really tried to find a country song that could get me across the finish line. But the only one that came close was Tim McGraw's Truck Yeah and I just couldn't do it. I already featured Miranda Lambert's Fastest Girl in Town. Everything I found was too slow or about drinking, trucks, and guns....

Any suggestions? What songs do you like to finish with? Anything I should add to my playlist?

I'm linking up with Stef, Kim, and Janelle for Tunes Tuesday! I'm also linking up with Marcia, Erika, and Patti for Tuesdays on the Run, and Debbie, Susie, Lora, and Rachel for Coaches Corner. Also with Annemarie, Jen, and Nicole for Wild Workout Wednesday!






74 comments :

  1. I'm trying to remember the ones that have carried me into the finish. OK Go's Invincible is another good one!

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  2. Thanks for linking up with us this week! I actually have all of these songs so I was nodding my head as I went through your list lol :)

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  3. I no longer listen to music while I run (except on a treadmill) but I have had some of these songs on my marathon playlists in the past! It definitely helps give that extra push at the end when a motivational song comes on.

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    1. There's nothing better than running a marathon with one of these songs going through your head!

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  4. I'm a big believer on having a strong playlist to help motivate on long runs and races! I can't believe I don't have Nelly's #1! Beautiful Day is great, and yes Pink looks so young in that video!

    Thanks for joining us for Tunes Tuesday this week! :)

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    1. Oh that Nelly song is a perpetual favorite! If for nothing else, the lyrics alone will get you motivated!

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  5. I also have "don't stop believing" but I believe it's the Glee version..lol

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  6. I have most of these on my Ipod, too! How about One Republic's Counting Stars? That's a great "start line" song as well ;-)

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  7. All great choices! I stopped listening to music while running when I forgot to turn it on at the start of the 2013 Chicago Marathon and ran the entire thing with my buds in my ears but no music playing! I don't even listen during 'fun' runs anymore. I just listen to my own thoughts. And of course there's the safety issue...

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  8. Yes, I've seen This is Spinal Tap. I have most of these but need to add a few. lately I've taken to listening to podcasts to change things up.

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    1. I should listen to podcasts, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I need to concentrate on my running.

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  9. I love Prince! That's a great one. In races I usually have music playing (in big marathons I don't) but I'm not really listening to it.

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    1. Isn't that a good one? I haven't had Baby I'm a Star on the playlist for a long time!

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  10. I have most of these on my IPod too! Great song choices!

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  11. Roar and We Own It are on my regular running list! My racing music, however, is pretty raunchy and dark, but that's what works for me on race day.

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    1. My coach calls my running music "angry music", so once again, I think we have something in common.

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  12. These are some great song choices! I don't listen to music while running but it was fun going through your playlist. I haven't heard some of these songs in a while. And I just so LOVE Prince!!

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    1. Since I do most of my running alone, music is essential, especially for the long runs!

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  13. Taking Care of Business and Don't Stop Believing are always on my playlist...just can't beat those oldies! I also love the them from Rocky to push me up a tough hill or through that inevitable "wall" :) Oh, and Eye of the Tiger too! I could go on and on..... but, I'll spare you!

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  14. I love how music helps me pick up my pace but I never use it in races! I kind of wish I did for the extra push, especially at the end. Pink is usually on my playlist too- and Katy Perry... so many good options.

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    1. I almost always turn to my music to get me to the finish line!

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  15. Great great songs! Nelly is one of my favorites for my running playlist!

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  16. I wrapped up creating my BB list, and added Don't Stop Believing. It's never corny when it's such a great song.

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  17. Actually, I usually always run sans music. But, on a few of my long runs when I'm solo I love listening to BlackBerry Smoke! You should check them out - great band. Similar to Black Crowes. But, I do have to say Foo fighters are great too!

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    1. I have never heard of Blackberry Smoke--I need to check them out!

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  18. I love much of this playlist!

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  19. What a fun list! I keep a running playlist with inspiring running songs and I'll have to add some of these! Thanks Wendy :-).

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  20. You can't be the one and only, the late, great Prince. Or the cheese of "Don't Stop Believing." I have a Pink song on my i-pod, forgot the name but not this one. It's a goodie. Must add. Katy Perry, yes. All others are unknown by moi by I will check them.

    Yesterday, as I edge toward my first two miler in a long, long time (Friday, wish me luck?), I was supposed to to two 3/4 mile intervals. Lost in the music, I saw that I'd run a full mile. Coming back is slow going but it's going. For me, music always helps.

    "We turn it up to 11," is part of the Ciampanelli family lexicon. Hilarious.

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    1. Music always helps. Yes, indeed! Turn it up to 11.

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    2. Of course I meant you can't BEAT the one and only Prince. :)

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  21. I like you playlist of old and new. Most of those are on my current list. I would add a little Brittney to the mix she always gets me going and old Rihanna.

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    1. I've had Britney on my list in the past, but you know I"m not a pop music person!

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  22. I love so many of these songs but the only time I listen to music while I'm running is if my book ends! Still, a great list!

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    1. I have yet to listen to a book or a podcast. I think that would involve too much concentration--I need to keep an eye on what my feet are doing!

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  23. That's a fun list! You know I have never made a playlist- what? I need to get busy!

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  24. Great list! I downloaded Hallelujah and am listening to right now. My fave heavy-hitters to get me through tough moments are All I Do I Win, Centuries, The Distance, Dare by Gorillaz, Sing by Chemical Romance, Turn Down for What, and of course, Lose Yourself. My boys just love when I rap along with that one! ;)

    And now I need to link up with Tune Tuesday because I love this topic! :)

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    1. I put Sing on my playlist! I hadn't heard that one! Thank you.

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  25. So many good ones! I'm always in need of some new tunes.

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  26. The majority of my songs are from Christian artists. A couple of current favorites are TobyMac's "Move (Keep Walkin')" and "Feel It" and Mandisa's "Overcomer" and "Good Morning." I also listen to a lot of artists from the 70-80s - Sweet Comfort Band "Runnin' to Win" and #1 of all time "Long Distance Runner" by DeGarmo and Key. They all have great running beats.

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    1. I'm not a Christian music person but I did have a Toby Mac song on my playlist--such motivating lyrics!

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  27. I remember I ran a half marathon a few years ago (actually, I was running it with my first flare up of plantar fasciitis). I was tooling along, doing my best, when I came upon my friend, running her first half. On a bad day, she is still twice as fast as me, but she was sick - had come down with some kind of tummy bug the night before and just wouldn't give up. I stayed with her for the last five miles of that race, and when we were about a mile out, we started signing ROAR at the top of our lungs. It was hilarious and wonderful all at once, and it really got us through the end.

    To be honest, I love the main theme of Rudy for the ends of hard runs. I'm a bit of an instrumentals lover.

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    1. Oh that song makes me cry--my youngest used to watch that movie on rewind when he was younger!

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  28. OF COURSE you had Journey on there. :) :) :)

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  29. I love Prince! Don't usually listen to music when I run but I do when I workout at the gym. Pitbull songs always make me want to push harder!

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  30. I was just making my playlist for my race on Saturday! All awesome suggestions - definitely adding some of these to my list!

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    1. Good luck on Saturday! I hope some of these push you to a PR!

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  31. I am currently loving Panic at the Disco too. But my most favorite is the new Coldplay and Chainsmokers song: Something Just Like This

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  32. I don't run with music (except on the treadmill) but Foot Fighters Hero is one of my fav songs. I have a whole extreme sports video planned in my head for it. The opening sequence starts with sky diving. And then I'm doing sick moves snowboarding. Can you tell that I planned this video while out on a long run and it was stuck in my head? Lol!

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    1. I love that you did that! I thought I was the only one who does things like that. The things we think about when we are running...

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  33. I love this assortment! Fleetwood Mac's Go Your Own Way carried me through the last miles and the finish line (I listened on repeat) for my first Chicago Marathon and I still put it on every marathon playlist because it's such a great music memory

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    1. That's such a good song. Certain songs carry such good race memories to me that they never leave my playlist.

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  34. "My Body" by Young the Giant.
    " Animal" by Neon Trees. Two great tunes that always make me pick up my pace.
    I ❤️ Journey too. They were my first ever concert experience. Never gets old.
    Keep on fighting!!

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    1. I've had both of those on my playlist in the past! good choices!

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  35. Great playlist. I very rarely run with music and almost never use it during races.

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    1. My last couple of races have been music free. But it's nice to have it for that extra push!

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  36. I don't run with music anymore since I do 90% of my long runs with my BRF, and I will do the other 10% just listening to my surroundings and taking it all in. On the treadmill (where I do my mid-week runs due to time of day when I workout), I listen to audiobooks or podcasts. Back when I used to mostly do 5Ks for fun, I always ran with music. My all-time favorite, "kick ass and take names" songs are Christina Aguilera's "Fighter" and "Can't Hold Us Down"!

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